Among the many varied programs of Hindu philosophy, the Yoga system explains character by way of the idea of Swabhava (innate behaviour), as outlined within the scriptures. This behaviour is taken into account the important high quality of the soul inside us. It governs all our karma and is thought to be the foundation seed of our dharma (ethical duties). In yogic phrases, this behaviour is studied by way of the lens of the three Gunas, which outline the qualities of 1’s character.
Sattva Guna, one of many three Gunas, is the standard that brings readability, concord, and stability to an individual’s Chitta (thoughts).
Have you ever ever skilled a second once you felt fully pleased, calm, and complete? That deep sense of satisfaction arises from Sattva Guna, which turns into dominant inside us throughout sure intervals.
What Is Sattva Guna?
Within the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 14, Verse 6), Lord Krishna explains the character of Sattva Guna—the mode of goodness:
Sanskrit Verse:
tatra sattvaṁ nirmalatvāt prakāśhakam anāmayam
sukha-saṅgena badhnāti jñāna-saṅgena chānaghaTranslation:
“Amongst these, Sattva Guna, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is illuminating and stuffed with well-being. O sinless one, it binds the soul by creating attachment to happiness and data.”
On this verse, spoken on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna describes Sattva Guna to Arjuna as a power that uplifts, but gently binds the soul by way of its attachment to happiness and data.
Sattva Guna represents a state of steadiness between overactivity and underactivity. It is without doubt one of the three basic qualities (Gunas) of existence. Amongst them, Sattva Guna is taken into account the purest and most harmonious.
This idea originates from the Samkhya college of Hindu philosophy. In keeping with this method, Sattva leads one towards Dharma (the proper way of life) and Gyan (data).
That means & Interpretation
The Sanskrit time period Sattva means purity or goodness, and Guna means high quality or attribute. Collectively, Sattva Guna refers back to the high quality of goodness.
Sattva Guna is symbolised by the color white, which represents peace and purity.
It embodies qualities reminiscent of selflessness, reality, data, peace, concord, creativity, and positivity. Sattva is the essence of dwelling a peaceable, purposeful, and significant life.
What adjustments occur when sattva guna will increase?
A rise in Sattva Guna results in varied optimistic results: bodily, mentally, and spiritually.
When Sattva turns into dominant in an individual, the next adjustments are noticed:
Behavioural adjustments
- The particular person develops a real need to be good and turns into extra caring in the direction of others.
- They seem cheerful, pleased, and stuffed with gratitude.
- They achieve larger self-control and show kindness, compassion, and non-violent behaviour.
Psychological adjustments
- The Sattvic high quality fills the thoughts with knowledge and readability.
- It brings a way of inside maturity and emotional stability.
- The person can simply distinguish between wants and desires, proper and mistaken, and devoted vs. non-devoted actions.
- They carry out their duties truthfully, with a way of goodwill and consciousness concerning the penalties of their actions.
Non secular adjustments
- The particular person develops reverence for divine rules and religious values.
- They change into inwardly pure and expertise refined religious sensations.
- Sattva Guna additionally brings steadiness to the three Ayurvedic doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha supporting total well-being.
Does sattva guna deliver limitations ?
Though Sattva Guna brings many optimistic adjustments to an individual’s life, it may additionally create sure limitations. It binds the person by way of attachment to happiness and data, which may subtly hinder religious liberation.
Sattva Guna makes an individual type, well mannered, and compassionate however these very qualities could typically be misused by others. Folks could reap the benefits of one’s goodness, mistaking it for weak spot.
These are a number of the obvious limitations which will come up when Sattva Guna turns into dominant.
Forms of sattva guna
There are seven varieties of Sattva Guna, every related to totally different divine traits. Primarily based on these, we are able to distinguish varied sattvic character sorts amongst people.
1. Brahma Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Brahma)
Folks with Brahma Sattva are pure, emotionally secure, self-disciplined, and truthful. They’re sober, clever, and free from anger, greed, egocentric needs, and envy.
2. Arsa Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Rishis)
Often known as Rishi Sattva, these people are dedicated to sacred rituals, scriptural research, and religious vows. They’re imaginative, clever, and free from ego, pleasure, hatred, envy, and anger.
3. Aindra Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Indra)
Aindra Sattva is marked by bravery, power, and ethical authority. These people are assured, eloquent, dedicated to righteous actions, and indifferent from base or egocentric behaviour.
4. Yamya Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Yama)
Folks with Yamya Sattva are action-oriented, assertive, and possess sturdy reminiscence and self-discipline. They’re free from envy, hatred, attachment, and ignorance.
5. Varuna Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Varuna – God of Water)
Varuna sorts are affected person, pure, and calm, with a love for cleanliness and water-related actions. They keep away from impurity and anger and are sometimes conservative, but balanced.
6. Kauvera Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Kuvera – God of Wealth)
These personalities worth honour, wealth, and dignity. They’re usually rich, outgoing, and status-conscious. Nonetheless, they could even be vulnerable to occasional irritation.
7. Gandharva Sattva (Sharing the Traits of Celestial Nymphs – Gandharvas)
Folks with Gandharva Sattva are creative and artistic. They get pleasure from dancing, singing, poetry, and wonder. They’ve a mild nature and sometimes deliver peace and pleasure to these round them.
Methods to improve sattva guna?
Rising Sattva Guna means cultivating a frame of mind that’s regular, quiet, and peaceable. In easy phrases, enhancing a Guna entails changing outdated unfavorable habits with new, optimistic ones that align with purity, steadiness, and inside concord.
From a yogic perspective, probably the most efficient methods to develop Sattva is by practising the 5 Yamas and 5 Niyamas, that are foundational to the Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga).
Beneath are some sensible steps you may take to improve Sattva Guna in your each day life:
1. Eat wholesome sattvic meals
The meals we eat not solely impacts our physique but additionally has a direct affect on our thoughts.
Spicy, oily, or overly stimulating meals usually makes an individual stressed or aggressive. These are indicators of a rajasic nature. Equally, heavy meals like meat, alcohol, or intoxicants boring the thoughts and promote laziness traits of a tamasic character.
In distinction, gentle, contemporary, and calming meals helps create peace and readability inside. To extend Sattva Guna, one ought to eat sattvic meals.
A sattvic weight loss program contains each the proper of meals and conscious consuming habits. Such a weight loss program sometimes consists of:
- Clear, contemporary, healthful, and pure meals
- Fruits, greens, complete grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy merchandise taken carefully
- Meals that feels pure and will be provided to God
- Digestive herbs like ginger, cardamom, cumin, and turmeric
Sattvic meals follows the precept of Ahimsa non-violence. This implies it avoids inflicting hurt to any dwelling being. Subsequently, it’s best to keep away from non-vegetarian meals and any gadgets that contain cruelty or destruction of their preparation.
2. Preserve correct hygiene
To domesticate Sattva Guna, it’s important to maintain each your physique and environment clear. The setting you reside in has a robust affect in your ideas and power. A clear house creates a peaceful and optimistic ambiance, whereas litter and mess can result in psychological restlessness.
Make it a behavior to remain clear, put on contemporary garments, and hold your property and office tidy. Cleanliness not solely displays outer order but additionally helps inside readability and steadiness.
3. Make sure that to steadiness between work & leisure
Working with out pause is a trait of a rajasic nature, whereas laziness displays a tamasic tendency. A sattvic state lies in balancing each being energetic with out attachment and resting with out dullness.
Your senses deeply affect your ideas and feelings. What you see, hear, or learn shapes your psychological state. Violent or disturbing content material, whether or not in exhibits, video games, or books, can subtly improve aggression or restlessness.
As a substitute, select content material that brings pleasure, peace, and love tales that uplift the thoughts and contact the guts. Such selections assist nurture Sattva Guna and convey calmness to your inside world.
4. Your organization issues
Be conscious of the folks you spend your time with. The corporate you retain vastly influences your ideas, feelings, and behavior. Being round optimistic, considerate people can uplift you, whereas fixed publicity to negativity can pull you down.
Should you discover that your circle is inflicting agitation or holding you again, it could be time to take a step again. As a substitute, search the corporate of those that are calm, inventive, and peace-loving.
Spending time with people who replicate Sattva Guna will naturally show you how to develop those self same qualities inside your self.
5. Keep away from evening work and rise early
Waking up early is an easy however highly effective behavior that brings calmness and readability to your day. To get up early, you could additionally sleep early. Human beings are naturally aligned with the rhythm of the solar—not meant for evening work. Sustaining this pure cycle helps restore steadiness in each physique and thoughts.
Sadhguru explains that the early morning time often known as Brahma Muhurta is particularly useful.
Brahma Muhurta begins about one and a half hours earlier than dawn and ends 48 minutes after dawn. It’s thought-about probably the most auspicious time to get up, as refined physiological adjustments happen within the physique that promote stillness, readability, and inside steadiness.
Waking throughout this era has a profound impact in your behaviour. It helps stabilise your temper, clears your thoughts, and nurtures Sattva Guna over time.
6. Spend time with nature
Within the Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Shri Krishna says:
“vanaṁ tu sāttviko vāso”
“Residence within the forest is within the mode of Sattva.”
— Srimad Bhagavatam 11.25.25 (first line)
Whereas it is probably not sensible to stay in a forest at present, this verse doesn’t recommend we abandon fashionable life. Somewhat, it encourages us to remain related with nature, because it naturally nurtures Sattva Guna.
Residing removed from nature and staying absorbed in expertise tends to extend Rajas (restlessness) and Tamas (inertia). Then again, spending time in pure environment brings stillness, readability, and a way of inside peace.
Taking even a brief stroll in a park, sitting close to bushes, or watching the dawn can calm your thoughts and restore steadiness. These easy moments show you how to reconnect along with your inside self and step by step improve Sattva Guna.
7. Meditation
“When consciousness turns into clear and the senses are indifferent from matter, one experiences fearlessness throughout the materials physique and detachment from the fabric thoughts. It’s best to perceive this case to be the facility of the Sattva Guna (mode of goodness), by which one has the chance to appreciate Me (Lord Shri Krishna).”- [Srimad Bhagavatam 11.25.16]
Meditation helps create a pure sense of detachment from the fabric world. It clears the thoughts, purifies the inside self, and brings you nearer to your true nature. By way of common meditation, you start to rise above illusions and distractions, connecting deeply along with your consciousness (Chitta).
Together with meditation in your each day routine is without doubt one of the only methods to develop Sattva Guna. It’s also possible to assist your follow with yoga asanas, pranayama, mudras, and different yogic strategies. These assist calm the nervous system and put together the thoughts for deeper meditation.
Over time, this constant follow results in inside stillness, readability, and a gradual development in sattvic qualities.
8. Follow bhakti yoga
Within the Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Shri Krishna says:
“mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat”
“Work carried out as an providing to Me, with out need for its outcomes, is taken into account to be in Sattva Guna.”
— Srimad Bhagavatam 11.25.23
“mad-arpaṇaṁ niṣphalaṁ vā sāttvikaṁ nija-karma tat”
Bhakti Yoga is the trail of devotion. Once you provide your actions to the Divine with out anticipating rewards, it brings inside peace, humility, and religious readability. This quiet give up uplifts the guts and calms the thoughts.
Practising Bhakti Yoga deepens your reference to the upper self. It purifies the intention behind your actions and shifts your focus from ego to devotion. This naturally will increase Sattva Guna, nurturing qualities like compassion, religion, and inside contentment.
Conclusion
In keeping with the Samkhya college of philosophy, nobody is completely sattvic. Each particular person carries a mixture of all three gunas Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Our behaviour displays the guna that’s most dominant inside us.
We aren’t born with a set dominance of anyone guna. It’s our each day actions, habits, and selections that form which guna turns into outstanding. By consciously altering these actions and aligning them with purity, reality, and steadiness, we are able to step by step improve the affect of Sattva Guna in our lives..